Page 44 of The Orc and the Innkeeper

I want to be the only woman lighting up Thorak’s world, I realize.

Especially after last night.

But now, with Ygra beaming at me expectantly, a wave of uncertainty passes over me.

Forcing a smile, I squeeze Ygra’s hand and then release it. “Great to meet you too,” I say, attempting to sound as enthusiastic as she did, but falling a bit flat.

Ygra looks between me and Thorak, quirking an eyebrow as the silence stretches awkwardly. “Well, I’ll catch up with youlater, Thor,” she says lightly, and then pulls him into a hug before heading out.

The door closes behind Ygra with a soft click. I turn to Thorak, my brow furrowed. I know I must have unspoken questions all over my face, because he immediately starts speaking.

“It wasn’t what it looked like, Mariah,” Thorak says awkwardly, his deep voice tinged with a note of desperation. “I swear, I was just catching her. She slipped on a wet spot where someone had mopped the floor.”

I should believe him. I should trust in the sincerity shining in his golden eyes, in the gentle way his large hands engulf mine. But apprehension niggles at the back of my mind, a persistent whisper I can’t quite silence.

That same feeling crept into my mind this morning…when I woke up alone, tangled sheets, Thorak’s warmth notably absent.

The self-doubt that followed, the way I talked myself out of my hurt—it all feeds into my current uncertainty, each small worry compounding into a leaden weight in my stomach.

Jolting me out of my inner turmoil, Thorak squeezes my hands, his gaze earnest. “Mariah, the reason I wanted you to come over was to tell you in person that we did it. Robert is going to distribute my ales, and it’s all thanks to you.”

Joy bursts through me, momentarily overshadowing my doubts and insecurities. “Thorak, that’s incredible!” I exclaim, throwing my arms around his neck.

He spins me around in excitement, his laughter rumbling through his chest. When he sets me down, his lips find mine in a searing kiss. My worries temporarily disappear, chased away by the heat that shoots through me.

I let myself sink into the solid warmth of him for a moment before pulling back slightly to look into his face.

“I guess this means we can stop pretending to be engaged,” I say tentatively, testing the waters.

Thorak’s face darkens, his brow furrowing. “Of course not,” he says firmly. “The paperwork will take a while, and who knows how long Robert will need to stay in town while it’s being done. We may have to be fake engaged for weeks still!”

I paste on a smile. Thorak tells me he’s prepared a special batch of ale for the occasion and pours us both glasses, the rich dark liquid swirling with enchanted golden bubbles.

We toast to our success, but as I take a sip, the ale tastes bitter on my tongue. The celebration is hollow, tainted by that small, anxious voice that has crept in.

How much of our relationship is just an act? And once the contracts are signed, what then?

I should be over the moon, swept up in Thorak’s infectious enthusiasm as he talks about the deal. But I can’t shake the image of him and Ygra. The spice of her perfume still hangs in the air, distracting me every time I take a breath.

I take another swig of ale, hoping the gentle burn will chase away her presence. But instead the drink settles in my stomach like lead.

My mood is stilllow when I step inside The Enchanted Bean the next afternoon. The coffeeshop’s quaint charm starts to ease my anxiety immediately, the overstuffed armchairs beckoning. I sink gratefully into a fluffy turquoise chair, its enchantment making the huge pillows feel like a comforting hug.

Like magic, one of the baristas, a slender young fae with striking tattoos, sets down my usual order before me mere moments after I arrive.

But even the comfort of my favorite coffee shop can’t fully lift the somber mood that clings to me like a shadow. I’ve barely taken a sip of my drink when Ecco arrives, her shimmering blue hair cascading behind her as settles in next to me.

“Hi!” she exclaims, violet eyes wide with excitement as she settles in across from me. “Okay, I have been dying here.Whatis going on with you and Thorak? The tension between you two was off the charts at my performance the other night. Spill.”

I can’t hold back my blush, memories of two nights ago flooding back. “We slept together,” I confess, my voice barely above a whisper.

Ecco’s face lights up. “You did! I knew it, he’s head-over-heels for you.”

“It was...unbelievable,” I admit, a wistful smile tugging at my lips. “Unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, with anyone. But...”

I tap my mug gently and watch as it refills itself with steaming, aromatic coffee. My gaze catches on the swirling patterns of my vanilla foam.

“There’s a part of me that can’t let go of our past,” I tell her. “And now, with his deal about to close and the extermination at the inn almost done...what if he doesn’t want me anymore when this is all over?”

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